UK politics │ Mr Cameron says sorry

13 March 2009

Mr Brown, the UK’s Prime Minister, has so far refused to take (any) responsibility for the current recession in Britain: he has not apologized for his role in causing it. He persists in blaming everthing and everyone else other than himself for the misery that will most likely to become worse in the future. Politicians from the opposition benches and journalists have been trying to extract the word ‘sorry’ from Mr Brown for the past few months without success. Mr Brown may lose his credibility, if he were to accept responsibility for causing the recession, however without admitting (any) mistakes, he looks detached and arrogant.

Mr Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party and the most likely victor in the next general election, is apologizing for his party’s failures to realize and warn about the ballooning public, corporate, personal and external debt. This is a very good tactical move. It makes him sound honest, because he admits he did not do as much as he ought to have done. Additionally, by recognizing past mistakes, his apology will neutralize any Labour government’s attempt to paint Mr Cameron as a continuation of the Thatcher-Major era in a potential negative campaign. By painting a bleak picture, he is also trying to create a room for manoeuvre if his party does indeed form the next government.

I cannot see how there could be a quick and vigorous economic recovery in Britain: more people will lose their jobs and homes in the coming months. Mr Brown cannot indefinitely claim that he has been a powerless victim of the world recession, while at the same time taking credit for the propserity under much of the New Labour government when he was the powerful Iron Chancellor. He sounds insincere, and the British electorate are unlikely to be kind towards him.

Mr Cameron’s apology certainly adds to the impression that the Tories are one step ahead of the government.